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11th out of 21 books
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The Wild Orchid: A Retelling of "The Ballad of Mulan" (Once Upon A Time)
"Once upon a Time" Is Timeless
Wielding a sword as deftly as an embroidery needle, Mulan is unlike any other girl in China. When the emperor summons a great army, each family must send a male to fight. Tomboyish Mulan is determined to spare her aging father and bring her family honor, so she disguises herself and answers the call.
But...more
Wielding a sword as deftly as an embroidery needle, Mulan is unlike any other girl in China. When the emperor summons a great army, each family must send a male to fight. Tomboyish Mulan is determined to spare her aging father and bring her family honor, so she disguises herself and answers the call.
But...more
Mass Market Paperback, 256 pages
Published
January 19th 2010
by Simon Pulse
(first published February 10th 2009)
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Now I am an "official" I guess you could say fan now. I've read a substantial amount of these books, and now I have to read them all. Dokey is the author that writes most of these retellings and for a good reason. She's excellent at setting the stage but for some reason at the climax you just want more, but I'm happy to report that this one felt totally satisfying.
Here we have the story of Mulan. I thought that it was an interesting idea to put this in the fairy tale caterg...more
Here we have the story of Mulan. I thought that it was an interesting idea to put this in the fairy tale caterg...more
Much more enjoyable than the Disney film version, but I also would love to see the 2011-release 3D version with Zhang Ziyi as Hua Mulan, or
2009 one with Vicky Zhao Wei.
The only drawback is the name "China" itself. I'm not an expert when it comes to the history of China, but in my opinion, the country and its inhabitants were not referred as "China" and "Chinese" during the period of the story.
Book cover: Horrible! How is it possible th...more
2009 one with Vicky Zhao Wei.
The only drawback is the name "China" itself. I'm not an expert when it comes to the history of China, but in my opinion, the country and its inhabitants were not referred as "China" and "Chinese" during the period of the story.
Book cover: Horrible! How is it possible th...more
Prior to reading Wild Orchid, my only exposure to the story of Mulan was through the animated Disney film (which I haven’t seen since its release about ten years ago). It’s refreshing to see the Once Upon a Time series expand its boundaries from the traditional European folk & fairy tale canon. While Dokey’s fairy tale heroines tend to be somewhat similar – they want to follow their hearts and develop their own identities in spite of forces arrayed against them – Mulan’s story stands out because...more
It's strange - I really liked this book. Way more than I should have. It's so short that I started it as I was getting ready for bed & had finished it by the time I wanted to sleep a few hours later. Also, all the best parts of the story (or what should be the best parts anyways) happen in the second half. That's right, the entire first half is devoted to her life at home before all the heroic stuff happens. Plus, she falls in love pretty much instantaneously, which is a huge pet peeve of mine t...more
Mulan is not like most other girls in ancient China. She has grown up without a mother, and rather than spend her days doing ladylike tasks and dreaming of marriage, she has learned to fight using a sword and bow. Her father is somewhat distant and doesn't like to speak of his late wife, and Mulan often wonders if she is a disappointment to him.
When the Emperor forms an army to fight the Huns, every household must send one male to fight. Mulan's aging father has recently remarried, ...more
When the Emperor forms an army to fight the Huns, every household must send one male to fight. Mulan's aging father has recently remarried, ...more
I have loved the story of Mulan ever since I was a little girl and saw the Disney movie. Now, looking back, it was an extremely silly movie with really dumb songs, but I still remember it fondly. This book is nothing like the movie. It tells the story of a brave girl who wants only to be free, but she is not the rebellious young woman with a bad attitude as portrayed in the film.
Mulan was born an unusual child, the product of a marriage of true love when such a thing was rarely seen. H...more
Mulan was born an unusual child, the product of a marriage of true love when such a thing was rarely seen. H...more
The story of Mulan is probably my favorite when it comes to Disney classics. And I don’t think it has anything to do with me being Chinese. I just love the idea of having a girl be the hero, instead of the guy. And in a world where girls have to prove themselves, we need stories like this. So I burrowed this book from my friend because I loved Disney’s version.
The new story of Mulan’s life is really nice. It’s a refreshing twist from the old tale. Her friend, Li Po, is also a really...more
The new story of Mulan’s life is really nice. It’s a refreshing twist from the old tale. Her friend, Li Po, is also a really...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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This series of fairytale retellings caught my eye as something that might be fun and quick to read. It was both. This story is a sweet little romance, with a strong female character at the centre, and it's not one of the typical Western fairytales either, though most of the rest of the series is.
While I enjoyed it, and read it very quickly, I wouldn't give it three stars because it is in no way historically accurate or culturally plausible. There's tiny hints at research into Chinese...more
While I enjoyed it, and read it very quickly, I wouldn't give it three stars because it is in no way historically accurate or culturally plausible. There's tiny hints at research into Chinese...more
Lady Knight
rated it
This was a great addition to the series, and quite honestly is my favorite thus far. It retells the Ballad of Mulan (and does a much better job than the Disney movie... no offense meant to anyone, I still like the movie) and fleshes it out so that Mulan's motives make absolute sense, and so that her world is believable. My only bone to pick is that after all the time spent setting up the story and Mulan's personality, she suddenly falls in love after only knowing them for maybe a week. While not...more
Wild Orchid is part of the YA Romance line of books 'Once Upon a Time' from Simon & Schuster. I've been with this series since the very beginning (The Storyteller's Daughter, Cameron Dokey 2002) and so far only two books have let me down in any great way. Wild Orchid holds a special place for me because in 1998 I fell in love the Disney Animation 'Mulan', and while realizing even then that Disney liked to romanticize their movies a great deal, the story itself fascinated me. To be certain I read...more
Reviewed by Jennifer Rummel for TeensReadToo.com
Mulan's mother died during labor. Her father, a great General in the army, was heartbroken. He's never been home since he heard the news. Thus, Mulan lost both her parents on the same day.
Mulan is not your typical girl. Instead, she climbs trees and despises needlework. She meets the boy next door and the two of them form a friendship. He teaches her archery, how to ride a horse, how to use a sword, and, finally, how to read...more
Mulan's mother died during labor. Her father, a great General in the army, was heartbroken. He's never been home since he heard the news. Thus, Mulan lost both her parents on the same day.
Mulan is not your typical girl. Instead, she climbs trees and despises needlework. She meets the boy next door and the two of them form a friendship. He teaches her archery, how to ride a horse, how to use a sword, and, finally, how to read...more
Mulan is a girl no mother-in-law wants during that time. She's more a tomboy than a girly-girl. Instead of emboidering, she likes to ride a horse and learn archery from her best friend Lin Po.
She grew up without a mother and father and she's always afraid that she's not good enough for her father. When he got injured, he's sent home (and his good name is gone, since he didn't agree with the emperor). Her father falls in love and marries another woman, but then comes the devasting new...more
She grew up without a mother and father and she's always afraid that she's not good enough for her father. When he got injured, he's sent home (and his good name is gone, since he didn't agree with the emperor). Her father falls in love and marries another woman, but then comes the devasting new...more
I have to say, I was pleasently suprised with this book. Though the typical story of Mulan, it was very well written. One thing I apreciated, many authors seem to think that if they make a girl disguise herself as a boy they need to go over every detail of the disguise, this book doesn't. In fact, she wears her own clothes and barely bothers to cut her hair. I found myself really apreciating that. The other thing the author does, unlike most author's of her genre, is in the fact that she didn't ...more
Cameron Dokey never fails to get her point across. I love the Disney movie Mulan so I had no doubt that I wouldn't at least like this book. I'm getting used to these short books.
Mulan is a great protagonist. She is different from other girls and longs to be taught something other than embroidering and being a proper young girl. So she learns (from her neighbor and friend)to read, shot arrows, sword fight, etc. Basically what boys are supposed to be learning, not girls. The only down...more
Mulan is a great protagonist. She is different from other girls and longs to be taught something other than embroidering and being a proper young girl. So she learns (from her neighbor and friend)to read, shot arrows, sword fight, etc. Basically what boys are supposed to be learning, not girls. The only down...more
The first four or five pages contain some of the worst, faux-humble, self-aggrandizing, unnatural narration I've read in a long time, but after that, we're given a chance to actually know Mulan and learn about her strength through her childhood. Which is all good and well, except that this section lasts for a large portion of the book, whereas the main crux of Mulan's life--disguising herself as a boy to fight for China--happens very late in the story and isn't given nearly the importance it ou...more
Not exactly a tale that I find memorable and exciting. I appreciated the first parts of this book but as the story progressed, I came to notice how shallow and uneventful it turned out to be.
I didn’t get to know the characters very well. Mulan’s character was fairly established but as for everyone else, I just got a glimpse or two of their names and not much of their personality. I also find that Mulan’s love interest, Prince Jian (…is that his name? correct me if I’m wrong.) a very ...more
I didn’t get to know the characters very well. Mulan’s character was fairly established but as for everyone else, I just got a glimpse or two of their names and not much of their personality. I also find that Mulan’s love interest, Prince Jian (…is that his name? correct me if I’m wrong.) a very ...more
OH NO!!!!!
Mulan is my favorite princess EVER, so I was super excited to read this book. But it wasn't cracked up to what I thought it'd be.
The things I loved
1. The Chinese culture depicted in the story, all the names and most of the culture was accurate. Ooh! And the way it explains the way she was born in the year of the monkey, and what traits that gave her, the month of the dog, and the minute of the tiger. Very interesting stuff
2. Mulan's character. She's advent...more
Mulan is my favorite princess EVER, so I was super excited to read this book. But it wasn't cracked up to what I thought it'd be.
The things I loved
1. The Chinese culture depicted in the story, all the names and most of the culture was accurate. Ooh! And the way it explains the way she was born in the year of the monkey, and what traits that gave her, the month of the dog, and the minute of the tiger. Very interesting stuff
2. Mulan's character. She's advent...more
I really enjoyed this re-telling of the Ballad of Mulan, actually other than Disney, it's the only one I've ever heard of.
Mulan's father has forbidden any one to utter the name of his wife after she dies in child birth, so Mulan grows up knowing nothing of her mother, not even her name. Mulan is raised by a nurse because her father is off fighting the Hun's for China and he doesn't return home until Mulan is 14, almost of age to be married. Mulan is best friends with the boy next ...more
Mulan's father has forbidden any one to utter the name of his wife after she dies in child birth, so Mulan grows up knowing nothing of her mother, not even her name. Mulan is raised by a nurse because her father is off fighting the Hun's for China and he doesn't return home until Mulan is 14, almost of age to be married. Mulan is best friends with the boy next ...more
As a fan of the story of Mulan (and especially as a fan of the Disney movie), I was excited to read this book. I love retold fairy tales, and I was in the mood for a good, quick read.
While it was a quick read, I felt like the book took a long time to really get going. I didn't really mind reading about her daily life, but in the back of my head, I was always wondering when she would go and do what she is famous for. The characters weren't exactly fleshed out - for example, the romanc...more
While it was a quick read, I felt like the book took a long time to really get going. I didn't really mind reading about her daily life, but in the back of my head, I was always wondering when she would go and do what she is famous for. The characters weren't exactly fleshed out - for example, the romanc...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
I'm not very familiar with the original Ballad of Mulan; I'm not even sure how popular it is with Chinese children. But somehow, I don't think this is a very accurate historical description of China in the age that Mulan is said to have lived. I also feel that she expressed far too many opinions and mannerisms of the modern, "liberated" woman. I realize this series of books has been published for young, teenage girls, but that is all the more reason to include pieces of real history an...more
Okay, so I'm on a Cameron Dokey kick right now. Probably because I need to escape into a bit of fairy tale fantasy and probably because they're a quick read so I can handle it time wise. I enjoyed this retelling of Mulan. It was a nice change of pace to get away from all the European based fairy tales and read something set in China. It makes you want to be brave and go out riding your horse while wielding your bow and arrow. I wish there had been a little more development between her and he...more
I loved Wild Orchid, yet was a bit disappointed. Having read all of the other books in the “Once upon a Time” series, I was glad that Dokey chose to write an adaptation of a non-European tale, thus broadening our horizons a bit. Still, the novel itself disappointed. The first half presented Mulan before she joined the army, developing her background in terms of interest, education, friends (well, really friend), and family history. I really appreciated this depth, but it was lost in the second h...more
Sara ♥
rated it
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review of another edition
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review of another edition
Shelves:
fairy-tale,
young-adult,
2010,
action-adventure,
challenge-fall-2010,
historical,
multicultural,
romance
4.5 stars
This is my favorite "Once Upon a Time" novel so far! It drew me in from the very beginning and held my interest the entire time. My love for all things Asian and the fact that Mulan is one of my very favorite Disney movies man have had some effect on that....
I saw some complaints among the reviews that the first HALF of the book was Mulan's back story, and that more time should have been spent on the fighting and love story. I definitely wouldn't hav...more
This is my favorite "Once Upon a Time" novel so far! It drew me in from the very beginning and held my interest the entire time. My love for all things Asian and the fact that Mulan is one of my very favorite Disney movies man have had some effect on that....
I saw some complaints among the reviews that the first HALF of the book was Mulan's back story, and that more time should have been spent on the fighting and love story. I definitely wouldn't hav...more
This took me forever. Partly because of outside events, partly because I am just not interested in anything even remotely oriental (except the food-yum). It was well written, the story was nice; but all the "this symbol looks like a warrior and this hidden triangle means friendship" was just goobledy-gook. No offense to Beth who really, really loves goobledy-gook. Guess what? In the end Mulan and the prince get married. But, we all know how fairy tales end, that's not the point. ...more
It's funny. I love the Disney cartoon of Mulan, and I for some reason really didn't feel like reading Dokey's version of it. I forced myself to open the book and then flew through the remaining pages. I loved it. Loved it. This is one the fairy tales that I was the least familiar with (compared to the other ones Dokey has redone that I have read), and it really came alive through her writing.
I loved the the characteristics that Mulan and her best friend Li Po possessed. I was struck wi...more
I loved the the characteristics that Mulan and her best friend Li Po possessed. I was struck wi...more
"Wild Orchid" is just as brilliant as the other Once Upon A Time books Cameron Dokey has written. Mulan is brave, resourceful, practical, and determined to learn, making for a very good heroine; I immediately felt for her.
I have very little to complain about with this story. It was masterfully written, the Author did a good job playing upon the original aspects of the ballad, the characters were all likable, and there was a proper amount of deaths. My only objection is a pers...more
I have very little to complain about with this story. It was masterfully written, the Author did a good job playing upon the original aspects of the ballad, the characters were all likable, and there was a proper amount of deaths. My only objection is a pers...more
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Cameron Dokey is an American author living in Seattle, Washington. She has a collection of over 50 old sci-fi and horror films. Cameron was born in the Central Valley of California. Cameron grew up reading classical literature and mythology, perhaps due to her father, Richard, being a teacher of Philosophy, Creative Writing, and Western Literature.
Cameron has one husband and three ca...more
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“I had to cease to mourn what could never be and make the most of what was possible. And I would begin doing that by trying to mend the hurts of the past.”
—
24 people liked it
“In the weeks since I had made the decision to leave my father's house, I had grown up. And I had learned that not every battle can be fought by firing an arrow from a bow. But I would have to face whatever new challenges came my way as bravely as I had faced the Huns. I could not wallow in self-pity, thinking about what might have been. I had to do my duty. It was the only way to stay true to myself.”
—
1 person liked it
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